Hay-rack for wagons.



UNITED STATES PatentedJanuary 31, 1905.

4PATENT .OFEICE.

HAY-RACK Fon wAeoNs..y

i SPECIFIC ATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 781,144, dated January 31, 1905.

i Application ined August 10,1904. sriai No. 220,228.

To all whom, it may concern: Y e

Be it known thatI, FREDERICK HEIDBREDER, of Quincy, in the county of Adams, State of Illinois, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Hay-Racks for Wagons; and

I do hereby declare the following tolbe a full,

clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to racks or 'skeleton bodies for wagons, such as are usually employed for carrying hay or like material of large bulk and light weight, the objects of the invention being to provide a structure of simple and strong construction with-which the full width ofthe wagon-holsters between the standards may be utilized for the body without the necessity of raising the bodyabove thek level of the wheels and without restricting the turning of thefront axle, whereby the center of gravity may be lowered, the capacity of the vehicle increased, a wide base secured, and the turning radius ofthe vehicle reduced to permit of handling in restricted spaces.

` In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wagon having a rack or body thereon embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a detail side elevation of a portion of the rack or body. Fig. 3 is a top plan of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4L is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Like letters of reference in the several figis of the usual type employed on farm-wagonsV- and embodies theusual front and rear wheels A and B and the usualbolsters C and D, with their standards c near the ends. The body or rack is formed with longitudinal side pieces or beams EE, spaced apart so as to just t between the standards c and held rigid by cross-pieces Fand F', the latter being located on `each,side of the bolsters to prevent longitudinal movement of the rack. Each of the side pieces or beams E is preferably surmounted by a longitudinal flat board G, arched over the rear wheels B, and, as is usual in this class of racks, front and rear uprights H and Hf are hinged or otherwise attached to the front and rear ends of the rack to properly position and retain the load. The side pieces or longitudinal beams arenecessarily made wide to afford sufficient strength between the bolsters; but when resting directly on the bolunder sides toaord a free space for the front wheels, and the arched portion is supported and distortion or twisting of the frame preventedby flanged metal `arches K.- The arches K are flanged on their upper or convex sides, forming, in efect,channel-irons, between the Y {langes/t of which the side beams will tit. Each Varched channel-iron is bolted lirmly in place,

preferably by bolts L, extending vertically through the ends of the iron and through the beam.V To secure additional strength, the bolts at one end, preferably the rear end, of the virons may pass through the intermediate top` cross-piece of the rack, thereby binding the whole structure firmly together. The ends of the arched channel-irons are usually extended in the same plane y or parallel with and fit against the under faces of the fiat edges of the beams, as at M, thus forming pockets for confining the portions of the beams mostliable to destruction, and at the same time the bolts may extend through the full width of the beams to secure the maximum strength and rigidity. The thickness of the arched channel-irons is such as to impart to the undercut part of therack astrength at least equal to the uncut portions, and thus while the advantages of a low center of gravity, a wide base, and an undercut body are secured nostrength or rigidity is sacrificed.

. It will be noted that racks of ordinary construction may be readily converted into un- 9 dercut racks by simply arching out the side beams and bolting in arched channel-irons such as described, and hence l do not wish to be limited in respect to the particular type of rack or running-gear. employed.

IOO

Having thus describedr my invention, what 'I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isi l. A hay-rack for vehicles embodying side beams, arched out on the under side to form an undercut rack for the accommodation of the front Wheels and integral arched channelirons bolted in the arched portions of the beams` with `the iianges embracing said beams; substantially as described.

2. A hay-rack for vehicles embodying side beams arched out on the under side to form an undercut rack for ,the accommodation of the front Wheels and connected by crosspieces, integral arched channel-irons located in the arched portions of the beams and bolts passing vertically through the ends oi the irons and beams at each side of the arched portions; substantially as described.

3. A support for the undercut portion of hay-racks consisting of an arched channel-iron having it ends extended in substantially the same plane and with its flanges projecting from its convex side; substantially as dcscribed.

FR-ED. HEIDBREDER.

Witnesses:

TOM. LEWIS, XVM. HEUMANN. 

